The Gurbani is the Eternal Package of Wisdom (Aatam-Giaan, the Divine Knowledge…). It urges us to bring about a storm of Spiritual Wisdom in life. For this storm of Wisdom will lead to Mool-realization by destroying the ignorance (Durmat or evil mindedness, Bharam or doubt, Abidiaa or false knowledge/Maya etc.).
- ਦੇਖੌ ਭਾਈ ਗ੍ਹਾਨ ਕੀ ਆਈ ਆਂਧੀ ॥ ਸਭੈ ਉਡਾਨੀ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਟਾਟੀ ਰਹੈ ਨ ਮਾਇਆ ਬਾਂਧੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਦੁਚਿਤੇ ਕੀ ਦੁਇ ਥੂਨਿ ਗਿਰਾਨੀ ਮੋਹ ਬਲੇਡਾ ਟੂਟਾ ॥ ਤਿਸਨਾ ਛਾਨਿ ਪਰੀ ਧਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਫੂਟਾ ॥੧॥: O brother, the storm of Spiritual Wisdom or Enlightenment has struck my mind. (This storm of Wisdom) has blown away my mind’s Bharam (doubts, confusion, superstition etc.) and bonds of Maya like the thatched walls of my hut. ||1||pause|| The pillar of my double-mindedness and the beam of my emotional bonds of the hut has come crashing down. The thatched roof of worldly desires (supported on the beam of attachment) has fallen to the ground and the pitcher of evil intellect has broken. ||1|| (sggs 331).
- ਗੁਰ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਪ੍ਰਚੰਡੁ ਬਲਾਇਆ ਅਗਿਆਨੁ ਅੰਧੇਰਾ ਜਾਇ ॥੨॥: Gur giaan prchandu blaaiaa agiaanu… (sggs 29).
Why doubts need to be blown away (ਉਡਾਨੀ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਟਾਟੀ)? Because doubts (Bharam-ਭਰਮ, ਭੁਲੇਖਾ, ਭਟਕਣਾ, ਗਲਤਫਹਿਮੀ) are the root cause of our Haumai (egotism), repeated suffering…
- ਭਰਮੇ ਆਵੈ ਭਰਮੇ ਜਾਇ ॥: In doubt (the Manmukh) comes, and in doubt (he) goes (sggs 161).
- ਹਉਮੈ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਇ ਭਰਮਿ ਭੁਲਾਵਣਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Haumai aavai jaai bharami bhulaavanaa (sggs 752).
Thus, doubts are also said in the Gurbani to be the crushing load on the soul. This human life is an opportunity to unload ourselves of this burden. We have the choice – either we can choose to carry this load around and keep suffering, or we can chose to end it here and now.
- ਹਉਮੈ ਮੋਹ ਭਰਮ ਭੈ ਭਾਰ ॥: Egotism, attachment, doubt and fear are loads. (sggs 292).
In other words, the Gurbani assures us that doubts can be blown away by the Grace of the Wisdom of the Gurbani – Gur Prasaadi:
- ਫੂਟੋ ਆਂਡਾ ਭਰਮ ਕਾ ਮਨਹਿ ਭਇਓ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਕਾਟੀ ਬੇਰੀ ਪਗਹ ਤੇ ਗੁਰਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਬੰਦਿ ਖਲਾਸੁ ॥੧॥ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੁ ਰਹਿਓ ॥ ਤਪਤ ਕੜਾਹਾ ਬੁਝਿ ਗਇਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਸੀਤਲ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੀਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : (With the grace of Gur-Giaan or Wisdom) my mind is Enlightened and (as a result, now) the eggshell of doubt (Bharam, delusion) has been broken. The Breaking of the Eggshell was the Liberation of my Shackled (Mind). My Cycle of spiritual birth and death (Aavan Jaan-ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੁ) has Ended. The Flames (of doubt) Are Extinguished with the Guru‘s spiritually cooling Naam (Eternal Giaan–Wisdom / Virtues). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1002).
- ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ਭਰਮ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥: Gur parasaadi bharam kaa naasu (sggs 294).
- ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਚੂਕਈ ਨਾ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਜਾਇ ॥੬॥: Binu sabadai bharamu naa… (sggs 67).
In nutshell, it’s only the explosion of the bomb of the Gur-Giaan (Wisdom or Bibek-Budhi of the Gurbani…) that can lift the doubt-ridden mind into its Mool (Source, Reality, Jot…) by destroying the fortress of doubt, Maya, duality, ignorance, Haumai, Bikaars…
- ਪ੍ਰੇਮ ਪਲੀਤਾ ਸੁਰਤਿ ਹਵਾਈ ਗੋਲਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ ਚਲਾਇਆ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਅਗਨਿ ਸਹਜੇ ਪਰਜਾਲੀ ਏਕਹਿ ਚੋਟ ਸਿਝਾਇਆ ॥੪॥: Make the Divine Love the fuse (guncotton, torch …), and Surati (ਸੁਰਤਿ – Chit, Awareness, ਮੂਲ ਨਾਲ ਜੁੜੀ ਹੋਈ…) the Havaaee (ਹਵਾਈ-moving in the air, ਹਵਾਈ ਤੋਪ, rocket …); (then) actuate the bomb of Spiritual Wisdom (Divine Knowledge, Aatam-Giaan …). In Sahaj Avastaa (Natural state of Being, ਆਤਮਕ ਅਡੋਲਤਾ, ਗਿਆਨ ਅਵਸਤਾ…), lit the fire of Brahm Giaan, and conquer (the fortress) in one shot. (sggs 1161).
To put it otherwise, through the earnest search (ਖੋਜ) of the Gur-Shabad or Shabad-Vichaar, the Light of true understanding enters in the dark corners, recesses, and chasm of the deluded mind! This Light keeps us truly Alive, Aware, or Awake! The Wisdom of the Gurbani helps us eradicate doubts, and Realize our Mool within (the real Friend).
The Light of true understanding links Mann and Chitt (ਮੱਨ-ਚਿੱਤ) together, making both One. The Gurbani tells us that making both One is the highest aim of human life. And for this to happen, both must be established in Sach (ਸਚ – Truth). For Sach (ਸਚ) is the glue that joins both Mann and Chitt (ਮੱਨ-ਚਿੱਤ) into one. To the contrary, doubts split them into two.
- ਇਕ ਮਨਿ ਏਕੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਲਾਹਿ ਭਰਾਂਤਿ ॥: Removing doubt of the mind, contemplate the One with singular mind. (sggs 47).
- ਜੇ ਇਕੁ ਹੋਇ ਤ ਉਗਵੈ ਰੁਤੀ ਹੂ ਰੁਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥: Je eik hoi ta ougavai rutee hu ruti hoi (sggs 468).
In nutshell, deep yet simple, the words of the Gurbani are capable of jolting us into our Joti-Svaroopa (Mool), within. The Words of the Gurbani cuts to the core without wasting any effort on non-essentials (i.e., Karamakand, rituals, Bhekh, Mayaic prayers…).
We are given the Gurbani so that – by becoming its sincere students (Sikh – ਸਿਖਿਆਰਥੀ or learner of the Gurbani) – we can understand it and then unravel the mystery of life through the Bibek-Budhi of the Gur-Shabad (Wisdom of the Gurbani). For this Wisdom of the Gurbani bestows the Biggest Blessing.
- ਮਤਿ ਗੁਰ ਆਤਮ ਦੇਵ ਦੀ ਖੜਗਿ ਜੋਰਿ ਪਰਾਕੁਇ ਜੀਅ ਦੈ ॥: Mati gur aatam dev kee… (sggs 966).
- ਮਤੀ ਦੇਵੀ ਦੇਵਰ ਜੇਸਟ ॥: Matee devee devar jest (sggs 371).
Thus, the essence of the Gurbani is Awareness – living in the eternal Wisdom of the Gur-Shabad.
This is the reason the Gurbani is not meant to be merely wrapped up in the designer’s wrapping or worshiped as an idol. Instead, it’s meant to be thoroughly understood-remembered-and-lived.
I feel both quotes have different reference meaning because of absence of aukad
matra on ਸਬਦ ਵੀਚਾਰ ॥
Many gurdwaras permit nothing else than kirtan.
Very true Bhai Sahib ji it is very essential to do Shabad Vichar in every Gurdwara, it is the need of the hour because-
ਸਭਸੈ ਊਪਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
&
ਅਤਿ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦ ਵੀਚਾਰ ॥
Shabad Vichar is very essential, only singing of Gurbani like a song gives nothing as…
Saint and soldier both stages are essential for a Sikh who has obtained Khande di Pahul. If it isn’t the case in practice then it carries little meaning instead of outer flamboyant appearance , and obviously a spiritual reward would be negligible. Gurmukh stage becomes supreme whose fragrance of speech, would reach to inner mind of others and never fades, but remain curious to acquire Gur-Shabad Vichar to enrich own mind.
The words from the message by S Trilochan Singh Duggal ji is as
“‘Sikh is a learner of Gurbani’, otherwise bycarry no meaningful true presentation of ‘Gurmukh’”
In practice we are grossly influenced by : name, posture, dress or symbols rather than
knowing the essence of Gurbanee messages.
Thank you bhai Sahib Jio!
A tragedy of growth of life is its susceptibility towards materialistic attraction. Life appears to be charming and never ending, so temporary pleasures of the mind keeps it entangled in cocoon of ignorance, and such ignorance could only be removed by understanding the GURBANI. Well said ‘Sikh is a learner of Gurbani’, otherwise by name, posture, dress or symbols carry no meaningful true presentation of ‘Gurmukh’. All that glitters is not a Gold; let us not be allured into materialistic life but daily routine sessions spent on learning Gur-Shabad Vichhar and with His blessings, such a difficult hurdle could be overcome.
Very important point!
Thank you Bhai Sahib Jio!
very important topic to digest and implement. Many gurdwaras permit nothing else than kirtan. If any vichaar is permitted it is by clergy only who are usually devoid of modern education or art of communicating the message to youth and intelligentsia.